Page 85 of Doughn't Let Me Go

I giggle. Okay, I am clearly buzzed. Inevergiggle.

“Basically.”

He shakes his head. “Fine. But first, let me refill our drinks. I have a feeling we’re going to need some liquid courage for this.”

* * *

“Are you serious?”

“Dead.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“You know, if we were playing this with prizes, you’d be naked right now. You don’t believe any of my stories.”

I blush at the wordnaked.

Or maybe it’s just because I’ve been constantly blushing since my third shot.

Turns out, tequila makes my cheeks feel like they’re on fire.

“I promise you, it happened. That movie theater popcorn did not sit right in my stomach, and the next thing I knew, I was barfing all over the place.”

“But there is no way a kid skated right through the middle of it.”

“Yep. Then he was so grossed outhepuked.”

“Ew.” I shudder. “And how old were you when this happened?”

“Twenty-six.”

My eyes widen. “No way!”

“Yep. Kyrie was there to witness the entire thing. Just ask her about the time Dad puked all over the skating rink at the most popular girl in kindergarten’s birthday party.” He shakes his head. “I don’t think she’s ever going to let me live it down. All last school year when somebody in her class started talking about sending birthday invitations, she’d warn them about mixing popcorn and roller skating.”

I feel the smile spread. “I love her.”

“Kyrie?”

“No, Lady Gaga.” I roll my eyes. “Yes, Kyrie. She has so much…”

“Attitude?”

I laugh. “I was going to say personality.”

“Ah, yes. That too.” He smiles sadly. “I’ll admit, she gets her wildness from her mom, not me.”

“What was she like?”

I don’t think I’m supposed to ask about his ex, but the liquor makes me brave.

To my surprise, he answers my question.

“She was…untamed.” He settles on the word like he’s trying to find just the right one to describe her. He blows out a breath. “I’m gonna tell you something.”

Something in his voice has me sitting up. Whatever it is, it’s serious.

“Okay…”

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